Purpose: Flotation methods are widely used to detect oocysts/cysts of protozoans and eggs of helminths, except trematodes. However, details regarding the concentration and recovery rates of these parasites are poorly understood.
Methods: Using Eimeria tenella oocysts as a model parasite, the present study evaluated three check points: (1) the proportion of parasites that remain floating in flotation solution (sucrose or saturated saline) during centrifugation, (2) the proportion of oocysts that naturally float after addition of flotation solution after centrifugation, and (3) the rate of recovery on cover slips after completion of the flotation protocol.
COVID-19 has spread worldwide and significantly influenced economies. Refeeding syndrome (RFS) is a potentially fatal abnormalities of electrolytes and fluid that can occur in malnourished patients undergoing mechanical refeeding. Herein, we report the case of a man in his 20s with a normal body mass index who presented with RFS and vitamin B1 deficiency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Few studies have shown that relatively younger children and adolescents (those born later in the same school year) were less likely to engage in physical activity in a phenomenon termed the relative age effect. Although these studies mainly targeted elementary and middle school students, no study has reported on the relative age effect on physical activity in ordinary high school students. Moreover, the relative age effect on sedentary behavior might show an opposite association with physical activity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTick saliva modulates host responses during a blood feeding process. We identified a novel chemokine binding protein 1-like (HLCBP1-like) gene from the salivary glands of the Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis. The HLCBP1-like protein, lacking a well-defined conserved domain, showed structural similarity to evasin, a chemokine binding protein from the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy against various cancers; however, there is a rising incidence of immune-related colitis. Some cases of immune-related colitis prove resistant to treatment, even with the administration of glucocorticoids or infliximab, and there is currently no established standard treatment for such cases.
Case: The patient, a 73-year-old male, had undergone combination therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma for 2 years, utilizing both ipilimumab (a CTLA-4 inhibitor) and nivolumab (a PD-1 inhibitor).
The incorporation of saturated nitrogen-containing heterocycle 1,2,5-oxadiazinane into small molecules represents a compelling avenue in drug discovery due to its unexplored behavior within biological systems and incomplete protocols for synthesis. In this study, we present 1,2,5-oxadiazinane, an innovative heterocyclic bioisostere of piperizin-2-one and novel chemotype of the -schistosomal drug praziquantel (PZQ), which has been the only clinical drug available for three decades. PZQ is associated with significant drawbacks, including poor solubility, a bitter taste, and low metabolic stability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe stereoselective activation of alkanes constitutes a long-standing and grand challenge for chemistry. Although metal-containing enzymes oxidize alkanes with remarkable ease and selectivity, chemical approaches have largely been limited to transition metal-based catalytic carbon-hydrogen functionalizations. Alkanes can be protonated to form pentacoordinated carbonium ions and fragmented into smaller hydrocarbons in the presence of strong Brønsted acids.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFElectron-rich heteroaromatic imidodiphosphorimidates (IDPis) catalyze the asymmetric Pictet-Spengler reaction of -carbamoyl-β-arylethylamines with high stereochemical precision. This particular class of catalysts furthermore provides a vital rate enhancement compared to related Brønsted acids. Here we present experimental studies on the underlying reaction kinetics that shed light on the specific origins of rate acceleration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe have previously reported a clinical case in which a hospitalized patient with a history of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia was persistently infected with SARS-CoV-2. This study investigated the neutralizing activity of patient sera against cultured viruses isolated at each time point. We also continued to decipher and analyze the whole-genome sequence of the virus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfections by gastrointestinal parasites are found in a variety of animals worldwide. For the diagnosis of such infections, the flotation method is commonly used to detect parasitic microorganisms, such as oocysts or eggs, in feces. Instead of adding a flotation solution after the final centrifugation step and using a cover slip to collect the parasites, the method using a wire loop for the recovery of the organisms has been reported as one of alternative methods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA strong and confined Brønsted acid catalyzed enantioselective cyclization of bis(methallyl)silanes provides enantioenriched Si-stereogenic silacycles. High enantioselectivities of up to 96.5:3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multisystem autoimmune disease that can manifest in older individuals, presenting unique diagnostic challenges because of its atypical presentations and comorbidities. Pleural effusion is a relatively uncommon manifestation of SLE, with studies suggesting a higher prevalence in older than younger patients. We herein report an atypical case of delayed-onset SLE in a 75-year-old man with left-sided pleural effusion as the initial presentation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAchieving margin-negative resection is crucial in treatment of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas, while preserving the spleen during distal pancreatectomy is highly desirable in pediatric cases. Laparoscopic Warshaw procedure (Lap-WT) is invaluable when tumor involvement in splenic vessels complicates preservation. However, the feasibility of Lap-WT in pediatric patients remains contentious.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTicks are notorious blood-sucking ectoparasites that affect both humans and animals. They serve as a unique vector of various deadly diseases. Here, we have shown the roles of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) during repeated infestations by the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis using RAGE mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Opisthorchiid flukes, particularly Opisthorchis viverrini, Opisthorchis felineus, Clonorchis sinensis, and Metorchis spp. are the most common fish-borne zoonotic human liver flukes (hLFs). Liver fluke infections are more prevalent in resource-deprived and underprivileged areas.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFsubsp. C60 is a probiotic strain of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) which induces various immune modifications in myeloid lineage cells. These modifications subsequently regulate T cell function, resulting in enhanced immunity both locally and systemically.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKJ (C-KJ) is a green alga with unique immunoregulatory characteristics. Here, we investigated the mechanism underlying the modification of T cell function by C-KJ components. The water-soluble extract of C-KJ was fractionated into protein (P) and sugar (S) fractions acidic (AS), basic (BS), and neutral (NS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLactic acid bacteria (LAB) possess the ability to argument T cell activity through functional modification of antigen presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism underlying LAB-induced enhancement of antigen presentation in APCs remains incompletely understood. To address this question, we investigated the detailed mechanism underlying the enhancement of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted antigen presentation in DCs using a probiotic strain known as subsp.
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